The possible, but not confirmed, crop duster involved in an accident that killed a man is seen Thursday at a landing strip off Afton Road, near Riceton Highway, northwest of Biggs.
(Jason Halley/Staff Photo)

BIGGS — A man who died Thursday after being struck by a taxiing airplane, was reportedly hearing- impaired and probably didn't hear the aircraft approaching, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Texas resident Willie Valdez Suarez, 66, of Houston, was hit while a crop-dusting aircraft was on the ground at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a landing strip owned by Williams Ag Service, off Afton Road near Riceton Highway northwest of Biggs, according to the BCSO.

Suarez was hired by a contractor as part of a crew to repave the private landing strip, said Undersheriff Kory Honea.

The unidentified pilot reportedly circled the runway and it appeared to be clear so he went to land, Honea said.

The design of the crop-dusting plane puts its nose at an upward angle when it's on the ground. That requires the pilot to zig-zag down the runway to be able to see ahead, Honea said.

As the unidentified pilot was making a sweeping S-turn, the propeller hit Suarez, who had come back on the runway. From family members and witnesses, it was learned Suarez was severely hearing impaired and probably didn't hear the plane coming, according to the BCSO.

Suarez was deceased prior to the arrival of first responders, according to the BCSO.

The BCSO, the Federal Aviation Administration and the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health will continue to investigate the case, which is protocol for these types of incidents, Honea said.

Clarence Williams, owner of Williams Ag Service, could not be reached by deadline.